NVIDIA begins certifying certain Freesync monitors for use with its G-SYNC technology

If you’ve been in PC gaming for any length of time, you’ve likely noticed the huge price difference in Freesync and G-SYNC monitors. The variable refresh rate (VRR) options go from budget-friendly with AMD’s Freesync standard to NVIDIA’s high-end and high-priced G-SYNC standard. G-SYNC requires certification and licensing, but is by-and-large a better experience when it works well. At CES 2019, NVIDIA announced that it’s bringing its G-SYNC ecosystem to Freesync and other VRR monitors through a certification program with 12 monitors already being certified.

NVIDIA to introduce G-SYNC Compatible Freesync Displays

NVIDIA says it’s tested 400 monitors already and only 12 have passed the certification process. I can easily believe this because Freesync can be added to just about any monitor in any price range, and with NVIDIA’s high standards, only the best of the best will garner its official certification.

Though only 12 have passed NVIDIA’s official certification for becoming G-SYNC compatible, that’s not where this ends.

NVIDIA will continue to test more and more monitors, and continue to certify them as it sees fit. But if you don’t have a “certified” monitor, fret not. NVIDIA says that it’ll have a new version of GeForce Experience that will allow you to enable G-SYNC on non-certified monitors. Just know that “it may work, it may work partly, or it may not work at all,” according to NVIDIA. The company offers a landing page that features all G-SYNC Compatible monitors should you be looking for the best features.

Do know that G-SYNC Compatible monitors don’t offer 100% of the same experience as official G-SYNC or G-SYNC Ultimate offerings. G-SYNC monitors boast 300+ tests for image quality, and G-SYNC Ultimate offers 1000 nits of brightness plus an advanced processor for the best overall experience. G-SYNC Compatible monitors offer no flickering, blanking, and artifacting, offering you a solid experience.